Day Five: Pray For God’s Help to Forgive

Focus Scripture

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5: 16 (NIV)

Devotion

Sometimes, when we utter the words, “I forgive you,” we don’t feel any different. There are no birds chirping. The band does not play, and it may not seem as if there is any inward change in us. 

That reality is, forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a decision. We may not feel anything, but that does not mean our forgiveness isn’t genuine or real. It does mean forgiveness is less a destination and more a journey.

This journey begins with an act of our will. We decide we are no longer going to hold the person responsible for the wrong they have done to us. Forgiveness means we choose to mentally and emotionally release them from the responsibility of their wrong.

This is easy to say but quite difficult to do. This is why we need God’s help to do the heavy lifting. We do our part by making the decision, and then we lean and depend on the supernatural power of God. 

A simple prayer we can pray is: “God I forgive my offender for the wrong they have done to me. Will you help my mind and heart to follow suit?” By praying this simple prayer we invite God to be strong where we are weak. We acknowledge that forgiveness is impossible to do on our own and that we need God. 

The beauty of prayer is that we have 24-hour access to God. We can call on our Heavenly father often no matter where we are on our forgiveness journey. James 5:16 reminds us that our prayers do not stop at the ceiling; they touch the heart of God. They are effective and powerful. He hears us, and he will answer our requests. After all, forgiveness is His idea. If He commands it, He will most certainly help us to do it. 

On our forgiveness journey, we have the freedom to pray for ourselves and our offenders. When we do, God works on our hearts. He is able to do what seems impossible. Invite God on your forgiveness journey. I dare you!

Reflective Questions

How might prayer impact my forgiveness journey? How is God leading you to pray for yourself? How is God leading you to pray for the person who wronged you?

For encouragement in your inbox visit Kia's blog here .